The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is undertaking a priority driven review of the 2006 Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including Recommended Dietary Intakes (NRVs). NHMRC has been commissioned to review the evidence and update the remaining NRVs for sodium and fluoride from the 2017 reviews and all NRVs for iodine and all Adequate Intake NRVs for infants. The reviews are being undertaken using a phased approach over a period of four years, commencing with sodium and iodine in 2018.

As a first step in the review process, NHMRC has established a Steering Group Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee), that is currently considering some of the overarching strategic issues prior to the specific nutrient reviews commencing. One of the issues that is being considered by the Advisory Committee is an inconsistency that has evolved regarding the age at which adulthood is considered to start for the purpose of the NRVs. The 2006 NRVs consider an adult to be 19 years and over. However, the adult age range was changed to 18 years and over when a review of some of the sodium NRVs was completed in 2017.

The Advisory Committee is currently considering whether the adult age range for the NRVs for Australia and New Zealand should remain at 19 years and over or be changed to 18 years and over. NHMRC is seeking input from stakeholders who may be impacted, on the implications of a potential change. To facilitate this, attached is a paper which outlines the issue in greater detail and provides questions for your consideration. While not specifically stated is the attached paper, of particular relevance for the New Zealand population is the potential effect this change may have on population survey sample sizes (e.g. numbers for the 15-18 year old category tend to be small as part of the adult survey so getting enough for analyses by ethnic group is often a challenge). Any input received will be consolidated into a report that will be provided to the Advisory Committee.